Dumping the contents of my mailbag last week was an incomplete task. A few letters stuck to the bottom. How is this possible? Maybe from using the bag to make caramel apples over the holidays. That's one theory. Let's avoid overthinking it and just get to the core of the issue. Here are a few more questions, posted word for word. If you need more clarity or the length challenges your attention span, I can't help you. If Rougned Odor wins the second base job, who will be at third base?...

The amount of trade and free agent activity is making heads spin. A dizzying pace that can be explained only by the upcoming deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current one expires on Wednesday, which also explains why the deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration-eligible players has been moved up to Tuesday. The Mets seem intent on conducting all of their offseason business by the end of the weekend. Except, of course, for the hiring of a manager. No sense rushing...

The Orioles have cut ties with Rule 5 pitcher Mac Sceroler. The club designated Sceroler for assignment this afternoon and selected the contract of knuckleballer Mickey Jannis from Triple-A Norfolk. Jannis is wearing No. 76, a first in team history, and waiting to make his major league debut. Sceroler, the nephew of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst Ben McDonald, made five appearances and allowed 12 earned runs (15 total) and 15 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked seven batters,...

The return of Anthony Santander from the injured list gives manager Brandon Hyde more outfield choices. It also gives him a cleanup hitter, the early numbers dismissed with a wave of the bat. Santander was slashing .196/.230/.321 with a double, two home runs, two walks and 17 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances before spraining his left ankle in Miami. But he's a presence in the lineup, someone that the opposition must account for, a threat to produce runs from both sides of the plate. Too bad...

For the Orioles, it has been a recurring problem with their offense: a lack of clutch hits. This issue showed up again big time in the second game of the Seattle series Tuesday night. The Orioles had the bases loaded and one out in the second inning. They had bases loaded and two outs in the sixth and the same situation in the eighth. The last two times, catcher Chance Sisco grounded out in each instance to end the threat. He went hitless and is now batting .162 with a .414 OPS. He had company...

The Orioles are looking to stretch out some of their bullpen pitchers this season to ensure enough innings to cover the long 162-game season. Manager Brandon Hyde recently said that could mean one inning plus for some relievers and could mean going two or even three innings for others. Lefty Tanner Scott, who had easily his best season in the truncated 2020 season, said he is surely up for pitching more if needed. But it has not been something he's been asked to do a lot in his career. He...

KANSAS CITY - As the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds charge toward next month's South Atlantic League playoffs we got another reminder this week of how special their pitching staff has been this year. It started Tuesday night with lefty Drew Rom and continued the last two nights with right-handers Gray Fenter and Grayson Rodriguez. The trio combined to pitch 16 no-hit innings, allowing one unearned run with two walks to 24 strikeouts. They seem to be getting better as this season goes on. Behind...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will make another rehab appearance at Single-A Frederick following last night's three-inning stint at Harry Grove Stadium. Matusz is expected to pitch on Tuesday and work three to four innings if he's able. He allowed one run last night, on a solo home run, over three innings. The Orioles could activate Matusz next weekend while they're in Kansas City. His rehab assignment runs through Wednesday. "He was better last night," said manager...

Kevin Gausman's next step, as he continues to work his way back possibly to the Orioles rotation, comes tonight when the right-hander is scheduled to make a rehab start at Single-A Frederick for the Keys. Gausman is slated to pitch just two innings leading to speculation that his next start after this one could come on short rest for the Orioles. That would possibly be on Friday night. He could also potentially return to the team in a bullpen role or be activated and optioned to the minors,...